{"id":141718,"date":"2025-11-05T20:10:48","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T01:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/athletechnews.com\/?p=141718"},"modified":"2025-11-06T17:38:26","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T22:38:26","slug":"ceo-corner-humann-joel-kocher-cardiovascular-health-exclusive-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/athletechnews.com\/ceo-corner-humann-joel-kocher-cardiovascular-health-exclusive-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"CEO Corner: Humann\u2019s Joel Kocher on Reframing the Conversation Around Cardiovascular Health"},"content":{"rendered":"
One of the top former executives at Dell, Kocher co-founded Humann with a bold mission: change the trajectory of cardiovascular health<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The supplement industry is booming as people spend more money on health and wellness products than ever before, from protein powder to creatine to collagen. But for Joel Kocher, we\u2019re not paying nearly enough attention to the most important thing: cardiovascular health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the driving forces behind Dell’s explosive growth during his time as an executive at the technology company, Kocher founded Humann<\/a>, a cardiovascular health brand known for its nitric oxide supplements, in 2009. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humann’s products are already being used by over 160 college and pro sports teams, and it recently signed a wide-ranging deal with the University of Texas<\/a> to become the first brand to place its logo on the Longhorns’ playing fields and courts, including the storied DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. The University of Texas, which played a role in Humann’s founding, is also a minority shareholder in the company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kocher sat down with Athletech News to discuss how we went from retired tech executive to co-founder of a cardiovascular health brand, the power of nitric oxide in boosting health and performance, and how Humann is working to play a leading role in changing the public perception around supplement companies.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and length.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Athletech News: Can you tell us about your background in tech, and why you decided to create Humann?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Joel Kocher:<\/strong> I was in tech when it was the wild west, back in the \u201890s. I started at Dell when it was doing about $100 million in revenue, and in five years, we were Fortune 350, so it was crazy growth. I also led three other top public companies. Then I retired because I thought that\u2019s what you were supposed to do. It was the dumbest thing ever; I absolutely hated it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I came across nitric oxide, which is the most important molecule, by far, in your cardiovascular system. The University of Texas Health System had a research program around this molecule, and they hired a Nobel Prize winner. They were looking for a commercial partner, and I just serendipitously ended up hearing this pitch \u2014 an explanation around the science. I said, \u201cI’m in.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I knew I\u2019d found my next life’s mission, if not my main mission. So we licensed the tech and know-how from the University of Texas, and that\u2019s how we ended up founding the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Joel
credit: Humann<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ATN: What\u2019s the science behind nitric oxide, and what got you so excited to create a company around it?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

JK<\/strong>: I couldn’t believe I’d never heard of it, yet its discovery had won a Nobel Prize. Essentially, nitric oxide is a vasodilator. In its simplest form, it’s all about enabling healthy blood flow. The wicked health problem is that in our mid to late 30s, like a lot of other things in the human body, (blood flow) begins to decline. By the time you get into your 40s, it’s in full-drop mode. By your 50s, it’s a ski slope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that said, we set out to change the way people think, because \u201ccardiovascular\u201d in most Americans’ minds equals heart health. Well, it’s a lot more than heart health. There are around 60,000 miles of blood vessels in your body, and roughly 36 to 37 trillion cells in your body. Every single one of those cells will die in two minutes if they’re not replenished with oxygen and nutrients, so cardiovascular health is for everyone, whether you’re 18 years old or you’re 85 years old. <\/p>\n\n\n\n